Digest, April 4, 2012

P.S. 276 has a case of ‘Linsanity’ The students at P.S. 276 in Battery Park City have taken it upon themselves to court a keynote speaker for their graduation ceremony. Last Thursday, members of the school’s senior class recorded a special message for Jeremy Lin, the Harvard University graduate and New York Knicks point guard, pleading for the budding NBA superstar and icon to deliver the commencement speech at their upcoming graduation.

In the video, which immediately was posted on social media websites like Youtube and Twitter, Senior Class President Eric Han told Lin, “You’re an intellectual we all look up to… and here are all your fans.”

Han waved his hand to reveal a bleacher full of students that cheered for Lin and begged him to speak at the ceremony. As of Monday, a spokesperson for Lin relayed a message saying that he was considering the students’ request and would be in touch.

Hudson Square lands huge lease According to the Wall Street Journal, Hudson Square will soon be home to the French advertising firm, Havas. The deals marks one of the biggest office leases of the year, as the firm prepares to take over 260,000 feet at 200 and 205 Hudson Street.

Hudson Square is quickly becoming a haven for up-and-coming new media companies and technology firms. The move by Havas will consolidate its NYC operations into one neighborhood. Previously the firm had offices in the Flatiron building on Fifth Avenue as well as at 195 Broadway.

Power system turned on at W.T.C. The World Trade Center’s power has been turned on, according to an NBC report.

On Tues., March 27, workers switched on a large power system at the W.T.C., which will eventually power One W.T.C., the center’s signature skyscraper, the W.T.C. Transportation Hub and the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey says the system will supply 100 megawatts to the site, enough energy to power 64,000 New York City apartments, according to the report.

First trial in Chen case postponed The U.S. Army has decided to table the trial of Sergeant Travis Carden of Fowler, Indiana, who has been implicated in the suicide of Private Danny Chen.

Carden, a 25-year-old from Fowler, Indiana, was set to go on trial Wed., April 4 for charges of maltreatment, assault, reckless endangerment, and violating lawful general regulation.

Since Chen’s unit is being redeployed to the United States, however, the Army is considering trying Carden in a court-martial in Alaska, the unit’s domestic base.

“The Carden case… has been withdrawn to assess ultimate location of trial,” said Carden. “The location and date of the trial is now being reconsidered in light of the unit’s upcoming redeployment.”

Liz OuYang, president of the Organization of Chinese Americans, said she was pleased with the news.

“In order for there to truly be transparency,” said OuYang, “public and family should be allowed to attend and have access to the proceedings.”

A spokesperson for Chen’s family wasn’t immediately available for comment.

Carden is one of eight soldiers that have been charged in connection with Chen’s death.